Calgarians mourn the 215 children whose remains were found at Kamloops residential school
Posted May 29, 2021 11:42 pm.
Last Updated May 31, 2021 7:31 am.
CALGARY (CityNews) – Calgarians joined in the mourning of the 215 children whose remains were found buried in a mass grave at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops last weekend.
People gathered at City Hall Saturday night, with drumming, candles lit, and an outpour of emotion and grief.
Chief Rosanne Casimir of the Tk’emlups te Secwépemc First Nation said this week the remains were confirmed last weekend with the help of a ground-penetrating radar specialist.
The deaths are believed to be undocumented.
Kelly McGillis organized the vigil and said these children have yet to be honoured properly, and this should be a priority now.
“Two hundred and 15 plus Indigenous children. Their graves were not honoured, and there was no ceremony, so we ask that Canada, the settlers in Canada think about that, and all colonial institutions, we ask that the flags be half mast,” she said.
READ MORE: Expert: remains found at former Kamloops residential school may be one of many discoveries
Two hundred and 15 pairs of children’s shoes were placed along the steps at City Hall in the memorial, each one representing the life of a child lost in the residential school.
“These are babies that we need to acknowledge and honour,” explained McGillis of the shoes.
“These are the shoes that filled those graves. They need to be brought to justice. What were names of the priests, the nuns, the Indian Act agents, and why were they not charged with murder?”
The vigil also saw speeches and calls for justice for the children.
